LED Battery Gauge

I was thinking, and after taking some advil, thought some more. My G6 is none ABS so there is an LED spot for the ABS status in my speedometer without a job. Think I could replace that LED with the Signal Dynamics' LED? If it'd work, the LED would be nicely in line of sight and it couldn't possibly look more stock...

 

That empty ABS spot seems like prime real estate, develop it! Let us know how it goes!

 

BackOff Voltage Monitor

This is what I'm planning on ordering this week. Just a simple LED on the outside.

BackOff Voltage Monitor $27 http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/product.asp?Item=BOVOLT

 

I just ordered one from the Riderwharehouse magazine.

The thing tells time, air temp, and charging volts.

I'll give my opinion once its mounted too!

BZ

 

Wow, a lot more options than I thought. I kind of like the digital meter, it blends well and looks good. But I'm also a geek so I'm drawn to LED's.

 

I like the mirror-mounted gauge. Its got me thinking that I might want to get a donor Compass/Temp display from a car's rearview mirror (like a Silverado) and install it on the bike. Just need to know which senders I would need...hopefully it doesn't require vehicle brain (ECM, ECU). Thanks for the idea!

 

That's the exact unit I'm getting from Signal Dynamics. There's no LED listed in the maintenance manual for the ABS slot in my G6's meter pod so I don't think there'll be a problem routing the volt meter's LED there...

 

Ok guys, the deed is done, with pics in the gallery under Volt Meter Install! Sorry for the delay but I waited until the recall repair was done. I got the instument pod and opened it up to find no LED in the ABS spot and the LED dividers held in place with screws (YES!!) . I removed the right divider and cut a recess in the top for the wires deep enough to ensure a gap between them and the print board, with electrical tape on the board as insurance. I removed the over all wrap to bend the wires at the base of the LED (as you love your dragons, CAREFULLY) at a right angle to the LED then inserted it into the divider with silicon rubber for insulation and support. Once in place I taped the wires, routed them over the print board (make sure the wires are parallel to each other, not twisted, or they may not clear the top of the board and the pod case) then out a hole drilled into the back casing. I sealed around the hole with more SR then used the supplied mount pad to fit the meter to the pod below the left upper mount point. The power wires are ran to the right side, the positive spliced into the right handlebar harness (white/yellow wire on the 9 pin red connector) and the negative to the heavy ground (Green wire on the 6 pin white connector). I soldered all splices and covered them with heat shrink and electical tape. The meter works well and looks GOOD but it's troubling just how easy it is to get flashing red with in-town riding...

 

Cyborg, nicely done. You are braver than I am messing around with the Circuit board and all.
Again, great job.

 

Thanks! I had to explain my plan 5 times to 4 guys at the Honda shop and to a man every one of them looked at me like that loose screw in my head just popped out my ear...

 

I'm curious as to what factors lead your meter to alarm; does a rapid decline/increase in RPMs make it go off or what?

 

Yes, to a point, depending on the load and RPMs at the time. I run HB during the day and if I'm idling and have my brakes applied it's apparently enough to drop the voltage under 12v. It takes little to get it back to green but I also have a battery rated at 50% health so that could be affecting the overall readings.

 

It just baffles me that these things can't be self sufficient with the stock electrical draw. You would think once started they could run without a battery all together.

Even mine goes low voltage when at a light. My heated grips go into low voltage mode and shut off when at a light for longer than a minute. Never mind with the high beams on. Yet when your at rpm you could run anything you want. :yield:

There must be a mod...

 

It'd be nice if the alternator had it's own small gearbox, automatically changing gears as needed to keep spinning at the needed range...

 

I ordered one of these too along with a digital meter one and I will post up when in as well. I first tried a regular led but it needs a regulator to go from 12-5 volts which I got but is defective!

I think this is the best option if you want led - already 12 volt ready

You dont want one like that - needs 5 volts to run plus the battery volatage - I already wasted about $20.00 on a defective unit that was only putting out .05 volts!

 

When my G6's fan kicks in, I'm getting a volt meter reading of 12.6-12.9 at best and at times 12.1-12.5. Anybody with installed volt meters seeing a voltage drop like that?